A  Social  Survey  for 
Rural   Communities 


A  Practical  Scheme  for  the  Investigation 
of  the  Structure,  Problems,  and  Possi- 
bilities of  Rural,  Village  and  other 
Communities  from  the  Point 
of  View  of  the  Church  and 
Its  Work 

By 

GEORGE  FREDERICK  WELLS 
1911 


This   pamphlet  may   be   secured   at   ten  cents  per  copy,  or  $1.00  per 

dozen  copies,  by  addressing  the  author,  at  Room  512 

150  Fifth  Avenue,  New  York  City 


A  Social  Survey  for 
Rural   Communities 


A  Practical  Scheme  for  the  Investigation 
of  the  Structure,  Problems,  and  Possi- 
bilities of  Rural,  Village  and  other 
Communities  from  the  Point 
of  View  of  the  Church  and 
Its  Work 

By 

GEORGE  FREDERICK  WELLS 
1911 


This  pamphlet  may  be  secured  at  ten  cents  per  copy,  or  $1.00  per 

dozen  copies  by  addressing  the  author,  at  Room  512. 

150  Fifth  Avenue,  New  York  City 


COPYRIGHT,  1911, 

by 
GEORGE  FREDERICK  WELLS 


A  SOCIAL  SURVEY  FOR 
RURAL     COMMUNITIES 

By  GEORGE  FREDERICK  WELLS 


THE  DEMAND. 

THERE  is  no  community  life  in  altogether  too  many  rural 
and  country  townships  and  villages.     In  thousands  of 
instances  the  absence  of  local  resources  and  the  exodus 
from  rural  districts  has  tended  to  destroy  community 
spirit.     Sectarianism  among  the  churches,  the  excessive  num- 
ber of  contending  associations   and  clubs,   family  feuds  and 
class  jealousies,  unjust  and  withering  gossips  and  scandals, 
the  absence  of  community  policy  and  leadership,  and  many 
other  causes  having  the  nature  either  of  stagnation  or  of  war, 
indicate  the  deplorable  dearth  of  community  feeling  and  pride 
in  places  which  might  well  be  the  gardens  of  the  Lord. 

The  tide  is  rapidly  turning.  The  social  consciousness  of 
our  day — that  is,  the  growing  passion  for  brotherhood — the 
practice  of  social  democracy  and  solidarity — Christian  Social- 
ism, I  would  call  it,  honoring  its  Source — "the  parliament  of 
man,  the  federation  of  the  world," — finds  no  surer  herald  than 
that  of  the  increasing  demand  for  first-hand  rural  research. 

One  year  ago  a  person  would  hardly  venture  to  publish  a 
country  community  survey  without  careful  apology  lest  he 
wound  tender  rural  sensibilities.  To-day  the  spirit  is  entirely 
changed.  We  need  to  make  apology  for  tardiness  in  respond- 
ing to  the  increasing  number  of  requests  for  printed  helps  for 
the  most  intensive  and  thorough  studies  of  rural  conditions. 

POINT  OF  VIEW. 

The  nation-wide  investigation  made  in  1909  by  Theodore 
Roosevelt's  Commission  on  Rural  Life  was  a  tremendous  stride 
toward  rural  uplift.  The  field  studies  of  the  County  Work 
Department  of  the  Y.  M-  C.  A.  have  had  a  stimulating  influ- 
ence. The  limitations  of  the  much  used  house-to-house  can- 
vass have  encouraged  the  new  demand.  The  investigation  of 
"overlooking  and  overlapping"  in  Colorado  made  by  the  Fed- 
eral Council  of  the  Churches  of  Christ  in  America,  and  similar 
studies  in  other  states,  have  had  great  educational  value.  The 


Missionary  Education  Movement,  the  American  Unitarian  As- 
sociation, the  "Men  and  Religion  Forward  Movement,  and  the 
Russell  Sage  Foundation  have  published  during  1911  manuals 
of  field  surveys  in  large  town  and  urban  districts. 

But  we  have  had  no  guide  to  survey  work  for  rural  and 
country  churches.  The  call  to  which  we  now  seek  to  respond 
is  for  a  program  of  local  field  study  which  shall  be  so  clear, 
simple,  thorough  and  practical  that  the  average  country  pastor 
can  apply  it  and  receive  its  help. 

MOTIVES. 

Some  pastor  may  say :  "I  must  know  my  community  bet- 
ter. Perhaps  the  things  I  know  best  how  to  do  are  not  the 
things  the  community  most  needs  to  have  done.  If  it  is  so,  I 
want  to  find  it  out  for  myself.  I  want  to  know  how  to  get  in 
touch  with  all  the  forces  that  I  should  work  with.  I  want  to 
discover  the  problems  and  with  them  the  resources  with  which 
they  may  be  solved. 

"I  believe  in  revivals,  but  I  want,  if  we  are  to  have  a  revival, 
that  it  shall  come  as  the  central  experience  of  the  community 
as  a  whole.  I  want  it  to  change  people's  morals  as  well  as 
their  feelings. 

"I  believe  in  social  service  by  the  church.  But  it  must  be 
so  directed  that  it  will  not  exhaust  me  and  my  more  faithful 
workers.  It  should  come  in  response  to  the  awakened  desire 
to  meet  needs  we  had  not  seen  before.  I  don't  intend  to  call 
in  outside  agencies  to  make  a  beginning  at  our  boy  problem  or 
our  temperance  problem,  and  when  they  have  spent  our  money 
to  leave  the  problem,  after  all,  on  our  own  shoulders.  I  want 
to  keep  leadership  where  it  belongs. 

"I  don't  want  to  be  burdened  by  any  church  federation 
scheme  for  its  own  sake.  The  other  churches  in  the  village 
ought  to  be  as  strong  as  our  own.  There  are  some  things 
they  can  do  better  than  we,  and  some  things  that  can't  be  done 
at  all  unless  we  work  together. 

"A  card  index  to  the  families  I  call  upon  is  already  begun. 
I  do  not  want  too  much  of  statistics.  'I  would  like,  however, 
to  tell  my  people  of  some  things  that  we  have  worked  out,  or 
need  to  work  out,  and  have  the  facts  to  back  me  up.  Let 
the  study  be  scientific,  but  I  haven't  time  to  take  a  graduate 
course  in  sociology  before  I  begin  to  study  my  church  and 
field.  I  want  a  plan  I  can  carry  out  along  with  my  work,  so 
that  the  study  and  the  work  will  help  each  other." 

We  are  glad  that  the  demand  is  not  for  programs  of  re- 
search which  experts  from  the  outside  shall  inflict  upon  inno- 
cent parishes.  If  such  were  the  case,  where  is  the  anaesthetic  ? 


If  one  were  a  consummate  "mixer,"  or,  to  speak  truly,  a 
tramp,  he  might  find  his  way  from  Boston  to  Pekin  without 
consulting  a  railroad  or  steamship  guide  book.  It  is  needless 
to  say  that  it  is  an  absolute  impossibility  for  a  country  pastor 
or  a  country  church  to  do  efficient  work  without  accurate, 
and  we  may.  say,  sociologically  valid  information  concerning 
the  field  of  service. 

THE  COMMUNITY. 

What  is  meant  by  a  "community"  of  which  a  survey  may 
be  made?  Let  the  question  be  answered  by  describing  con- 
crete examples. 

1.  A  rural  neighborhood  of  from  one  to  three  hundred 
people  who  have   as  their  social  center  a  place,  very  often 
called  "the  city,"  consisting  of  a  blacksmith  shop,  a  saw  mill, 
a  store,  a  post  office,  a  public  school,  and  six  or  eight  farm- 
houses.   Many  such  communities  are  only  small  parts  of  town- 
ships.    They  may  be  surveyed,  especially  by  those  who  are 
their  responsible  local  leaders. 

2.  A  more  interesting  community  is  one  of  24  or  more 
square    miles,    700    people,    a    village  of    125    houses,    three 
churches,  a  small  factory,  a  school,  stores,  a  post  office,  and 
other   churches   in   out   neighborhoods.      Such    a   community 
would  be  a  fair  place  for  a  survey,  even  though  its  village  is 
in  two  different  counties  and  its  citizens  pay  taxes  in  three 
townships.     Political  boundaries  and  social  boundaries  do  not 
always  correspond.     It  is  best  to  follow  political  boundaries 
where  possible. 

3.  A  township  of  36  square  miles,  1,400  people,  one  lead- 
ing village  and  two  or  three  subordinate  hamlets,  three  or  four 
churches  and  well-developed  industrial  and  commercial  enter- 
prises.    Such  a  township  constitutes  a  natural  responsibility 
district  for  the  churches. 

4.  A  county  seat  town  of  from  two  to  ten  thousand  people, 
a  college,  from  five  to  eight  churches,  two  or  three  factories, 
a  bank,  two  or  three  nationality  or  race  groups,  and  social  life 
in  other  respects  similar. 

THE  HOUSE-TO-HOUSE  CANVASS. 

A  house-to-house  canvass  of  a  community  is  not  a  social 
survey  of  that  community.  It  is,  however,  a  most  necessary 
help  or  means  to  the  survey.  If  a  pastor  is  contemplating 
a  survey  of  his  field  when  he  has  not  already  at  hand  the  re- 
sults in  card  catalogue  form  of  a  complete  canvass,  I  would 
strongly  urge  that  the  canvass  precede  and  the  social  survey 


follow.  The  relation  of  a  canvass  to  a  survey  is  that  of  a  part 
to  its  whole. 

For  the  purpose  of  having  together  under  one  cover  the 
guidance  for  a  complete  community  study  suggestions  are 
here  given  concerning  the  community  canvass. 

It  is  recommended  that  the  pastor  or  pastors  make  their 
own  canvass.  For  this  plain  manila  cards  five  or  six  inches 
square  may  be  provided,  one  for  each  family  group.  When 
filled  out  for  a  family  the  card  will  convey  the  following  facts 
in  the  order  mentioned : 

1.  Name  of  the  head  of  the  family. 

2.  His  address,  both  post  office  and  telephone. 

3.  The  wife's  name. 

4.  Names  and  ages  of  children. 

5.  Grandparents  or  other  members  of  the  family. 

6.  Names  of  servants. 

7.  Religious   standing  of  the   family.     (R.) 

8.  Moral  standing.  (M.) 

9.  Economic  standing.  (E.) 

10.  Literary  provisions.  (L.) 

11.  Educational  standing.  (Ed.) 

12.  Social  standing.  (S.) 

It  will  be  observed  that  this  plan  is  so  simple  that  it  is 
not  necessary  that  the  family  cards  have  any  printed  numbers 
or  questions.     The  first  six  are  name  facts  in  logical  order, 
and  the  last  six  are  status  facts  in  logical  order.    A  ,card  when 
it  is  filled  out  for  a  family  will  appear  something  as  follows: 
Brown,  Mr.  Charles  R. 
R.  F.  D.  2,  Jonesville,  N.  Y.     Tel.   13-23. 
Mrs.  Hattie  L.  Brown. 
Frank  M.      Age  n. 
Charles  L.     Age    6. 
John   T.         Age    4. 
Henry   Brown,   his   father.     Age  72. 
Sarah  Jones.  Age  17. 

Ralph   Smith.  Age  20. 

R.     Parents  members,  active. 

Children  in  S.  S. 
M.   High. 

E.     Prosperous  farmer,  invested  funds. 
L.     Daily  papers,  Youth's  Companion,  Delineator,  World's 

Work,  Outlook. 

Ed.  Common  public  schools,  wife  college  graduate. 
S.     High,  community  leaders.     I.O.O.F.  and  I.O.G.T. 
When  the  work  of  the  social  survey  itself  is  begun  it  will 


be  a  surprise  to  note  the  number  of  questions  which  can  be 
answered  direct  from  the  available  information  which  this 
simple  plan  makes  possible.  The  canvass  considered  alone 
has  great  social  and  practical  value,  but  taken  as  a  means  to 
an  inside  knowledge  of  the  social  structure,  problems  and 
possibilities  of  the  community,  it  will  be  a  source  of  both  in- 
terest and  inspiration. 

SUGGESTED  AUSPICES. 

It  is  suggested  that  rural  social  surveys  be  made  under  any 
one  of  the  following  auspices : 

1.  By  the  pastor  of  one  of  the  churches  of  a  community. 
This  would  be  a  still  hunt  for  facts.    The  pastor  would  make 
use  of  the  facts  privately  or  publicly,  according  to  local  needs. 

2.  By  the  pastor  and  one  or  two  select  laymen. 

3.  By  the  Inter-Church  Federation  or  Ministerial  Asso- 
ciation in  communities  where  there  are  several  churches.    Re- 
sponsibility for  the  different  parts  of  the  survey  could  thus 
be  distributed,  and  frequent  meetings  could  be  held  for  the  dis- 
cussion of  results  and  best  methods  of  procedure. 

4.  By  all  the  pastors  uniting  for  this  purpose,  even  though 
they  have  no  organized  Federation  or  Association. 

5.  By  the  pastor  of  a  local  church  and  a  group  of  laymen, 
such  as  the  officers  of  the  church,  an  Adult  Bible  Class  or  a 
Men's  Club. 

6.  By  all  the  pastors  of  the  community  and  one  or  two 
laymen  from  each  church,  constituting  a  sort  of  self-appointed 
Committee  on  the  Religious  State  of  the  Community. 

"TELL  Us  How." 

The  Outlook  for  August  18,  1906,  has  an  article  entitled, 
The  Country  Church  arid  Its  Social  Problem,  which  contains 
a  report  of  a  survey  of  25  rural  communities.  The  investiga- 
tion was  made  by  asking  the  pastor  and  leading  workers  of 
each  of  the  50  churches  to  answer  a  set  of  about  200  questions. 
That  set  of  questions  was  made  by  a  country  minister.  As 
far  as  I  know  it  was  the  only  set  for  rural  surveys  available  at 
that  time.  It  was  the  product  of  actual  experience — not  of  a 
theorist  sitting  at  his  desk. 

One  form  of  the  following  Questionaire  has  been  used  in 
the  social  survey  of  Tioga  County,  New  York.  Though  our 
present  Questionaire  has  required  much  study,  it  is  largely  the 
product  of  actual  field  work. 

The  first  question  which  a  person  wishing  to  make  a  social 
diagnosis  of  his  parish  would  ask  if  a  questionaire  were  put 
in  his  hands  would  be :  "How  shall  this  be  used  ?" 


To  this  only  one  answer  is  necessary:  "The  questionaire 
is  the  guide  to  its  own  use." 

Try  it  and  see! 

A  few  suggestions  are  made,  however,  to  clear  up  a  few 
points  which  may  not  be  so  easily  evident. 

1.  Let  each  person  who  is  to  make  the  survey  procure  a 
loose  leaf  note-book  or  a  card  index  and  give  each  leaf  or 
card  a  number  corresponding  to  the  number  of  the  question  in 
the  list.     For  instance,  card  or  leaf  numbers  I,  34  and  127 
will  contain,  after  the  survey  is  made,  the  answers  to  ques- 
tions i,  34  and  127.    Each  leaf  or  card,  with  added  pages  if 
necessary,  may  have  the  answer  to  but  one  question.    And  thus 
the  work  of  the  survey,  each  investigator  keeping  his  own 
notes,  may  proceed  in  an  orderly  manner. 

2.  It  would  be  very  easy  if  a  group  of  persons  were  mak- 
ing the  survey  of  a  field  for  certain  questions  to  be  assigned 
to  each  person.     The  numbering  would  help,  and  the  results 
could  be  brought  together  into  a  single  report. 

3.  Warnings  like  the  following  are  often  given  in  connec- 
tion with  the  use  of  surveys:     "There  is  need  to  remember 
that  communities  vary  as  widely  as  their  number,  and  that  no 
one  set  of  questions  will  uniformly  suit  all  situations.    Some  of 
the  following  questions  will  not  be  applicable  in  a  given  com- 
munity.   Those  making  the  survey,  therefore,  must  exercise  a 
certain  caution  in  endeavoring  to  press  questions  which  may 
not  be  fitting." 

If  such  a  warning  is  necessary  a  social  survey  of  a  com- 
munity is  unnecessary.  The  purpose  of  a  survey  is  not  to  fit 
the  truth  to  conditions,  but  to  fit  conditions  to  the  truth.  If 
one  is  to  dodge  every  sensitive  issue  he  had  better  not  make 
the  survey.  Survey  work  is  valueless  if  it  fails  to  be  both 
brave  and  scientific. 

What  is  called  for  is  not  that  the  survey  should  be  made  to 
fit  the  community,  but  to  fit  the  capacity  and  resources  of  those 
who  are  to  make  it. 

Since  so  much  is  necessary  to  suit  the  varying  provisions 
of  survey  work  it  seems  best  to  present  one  set  of  questions 
which  is  fairly  comprehensive,  rather  than  to  work  out  several 
different  sets.  The  persons  making  surveys  may  select  and 
number  the  questions  which  they  think  best  to  use. 

4.  The  purpose  of  a  survey  is  not  to  measure  the  lifetime 
of  a  community,  but  to  measure  the  life  of  a  community  at 
one  particular  time.     It  is,  therefore,  urged  that  if  the  survey 
of  a  parish  is  undertaken  that  the  student  or  students  concen- 
trate upon  that  one  thing  until  the  facts  are  all  secured.    This 
may  require  three  months  in  some  instances,  but  if  the  work 


can  be  thoroughly  done  in  one  week  or  day  I  would  advise  the 
latter  course.  For  the  purpose  of  learning  the  facts  of  growth 
the  same  questions  may  be  asked  at  different  times. 

5.  This  survey  may  be  applied  in  the  study  of  conditions 
throughout  the  rural  portions  of  a  county  or  state.  When 
the  same  set  of  questions  is  used  in  different  communities 
by  several  investigators  allowance  must  be  made  in  the  com- 
prehensive conclusion  for  the  differing  personal  equation. 

AFTER  THE  SURVEY — WHAT? 

A  true  questionaire  is  the  guide  not  only  to  its  own  use,  but 
to  the  community  program  of  service  to  which  it  leads.  Again, 
it  may  be  said,  try  it  and  see.  The  questionaire  has  been  pre- 
pared with  the  larger,  practical  result  especially  in  view.  The 
purpose  of  a  social  survey  is  not  to  produce  statistics,  but  to 
produce  better  communities. 

While  the  survey  is  in  progress,  and  after,  it  is  urgently 
recommended  that  extensive  and  painstaking  use  be  made  of  a 
bibliography  of  printed  helps  for  country  pastors.  By  the 
union  of  the  field  and  the  library  studies,  aided  by  constant 
prayer  and  earnest  personal  service,  the  investigator  will  find 
a  place  in  the  very  heart  of  the  rural  life  movement  which 
shall  realize  to  him  that  the  community  structure  in  which 
he  builds  is  the  world,  and  of  which  the  completed  temple 
is  heaven. 

THE    QUESTIONAIRE 

Introduction. 

1.  Name  of  person  making  the  survey. 

2.  P.  O.  address. 

3.  Position  in  business. 

4.  Position  in  church  life. 

STUDY  No.  i. 
THE  COMMUNITY  AND  ITS  POPULATION. 

5.  Name  of  community  surveyed. 

6.  Size  in  square  miles. 

7.  Boundaries. 

Population. 

8.  Total  number  of  people  in  the  community. 

9.  Name  of  each  hamlet,  village  or  town  center  and  the 

population  of  each. 

10.     How  many  people   live  outside  of  hamlet,   village  and 
town  centers? 


11.  Name  the  rural  neighborhoods  outside  of  hamlets  and 

villages  above  named  and  give  the  population  of  each. 

Families. 

12.  How  many  families  are  there  in  the  community? 

13.  What  is  the  average  number  of  persons  in  each  family 

group  ? 

14.  How  many  children  under  fourteen  years  of  age  in  the 

community  ? 

15.  How  many  boys  from  14  to  21  years  of  age  in  the  com- 

munity ? 

16.  How  many  girls  from  14  to  21  years  of  age? 

17.  How  many   instances    are   there   of   persons   occupying 

houses  alone? 

1 8.  Name  the  nationalities  in  the  community  and  give  the 

number  of  people  in  each. 

19.  Name  the  classes  of  industries  in  the  community  and  give 

the  number  of  people  represented  by  each. 
(NOTE. — Consult    the    pastor's    card    catalogue,    which 
should  contain  much  of  this  information.) 

STUDY   No.  2. 

ECONOMIC  AND  INDUSTRIAL  CONDITIONS. 
Natural  Resources. 

20.  What  natural  resources,  such  as  tillable  soil,  timber,  min- 

erals, fisheries,  water-power,  lake  or  mountain  scen- 
ery, etc.,  has  the  community  ? 

21.  Name  any  of  these  resources  which  are  failing,  give  rea- 

sons and  probable  effect  on  the  industrial  life  of  the 
community. 

22.  What  efforts,  if  any,  are  being  made  to  conserve  the  nat- 

ural resources? 

23.  What  is  the  effect  of  the  failure  or  development  of  any 

natural  resources  on  the  character  of  the  population  ? 

Public  Service  Facilities. 

24.  What  kind  of  roads  has  the  community? 

25.  What  are  the  waterway,  steam  and  electric  transporta- 

tion facilities  of  the  community? 

26.  How  is  the  U.  S.  mail  collected  and  distributed  in  the 

community  ? 

27.  What  are  the  telephone  facilities  of  the  community? 

28.  What  provisions  are  made  for  a  pure  and  adequate  water 

supply  ? 

10 


29.  What  central  lighting  facilities,  if  any,  have  the  village 

homes  and  other  buildings? 

30.  Is  the  present  ownership  or  control  of  public  service  fa- 

cilities satisfactory? 

Inter-Community  Relations. 

31.  What  is  the  proximity  of  the  community  to  cities  or  large 

towns  ? 

32.  Name  the  industrial   and  commercial  advantages,  if  any, 

arising  from  such  proximity? 

33.  How  many  persons  live  in  the  community  who  commute 

to  town  or  city  for  industrial,  business  or  professional 
occupations  ? 

34.  How  does  this  fact  affect  the  community  interest  of  such 

commuters  ? 

35.  What  effect,  if  any,  do  the  above  conditions  have  on 

church  attendance? 

36.  To  what  places  and  for  what  purpose  have  families  moved 

during  the  last  few  years? 

Factory  Labor  Conditions. 

37.  Name  the  factories  and  mills  in  the  community  and  the 

number  of  men  employed  in  each.    How  many  women 
are  employed? 

38.  What  are  the  wages,  hours  of  labor  and  rest-day  privi- 

leges in  each  organized  industry? 

39.  What  labor  unions  has  the  community,  and  what  is  the 

purpose,  leadership,  standing  and  influence  of  each? 

40.  How  many  children  of  each  sex  under  15  years  of  age 

are  employed  in  manufacturing  industries? 
(Answer  this  question  according  to  the  age  limit  as  given 
in  the  Child  Labor  Laws  of  the  State  in  which  the 
survey  is  made.) 

Wealth  and  Poverty. 

42.  How  many  families  pay  rent  upon  the  houses  which  they 

use? 

43.  How  many  pay  rent  upon  the  farms  they  occupy? 

44.  What  is  the  proportion  of  renters  to  property  owners? 

45.  How  many  unoccupied  or  abandoned  houses  or  home- 

steads in  the  community? 

46.  What  are  the  more  wealthy  persons  of  the  community 

considered  to  be  worth? 

47.  How  many  families  of  dependent  poor? 

11 


48.  What  are  the  causes  of  such  poverty? 

49.  Are  there  special  problems  arising  out  of  the  relation  of 

Capital  and  Labor?    If  so,  name  them. 

Commercial  Agencies. 

(NOTE. — In  answering  questions  like  these  it  will  be  best 
to  make  an  orderly  catalogue  of  each  agency,  giving 
names  and  the  facts  concerning  it.) 

50.  Name  the  banks,   stores   and  other   agencies   for   com- 

mercial exchange  and  state  the  number  of  persons 
employed  in  each. 

51.  Name  the  public  interests,  such  as  law  offices,  doctors' 

and  dental  rooms,  recreation  rooms,  barber  shops, 
restaurants,  livery  stables,  blacksmith  shops,  saw 
mills,  stage  routes,  news-stands  and  other  concerns 
not  requiring  special  organization  which  are  eco- 
nomically essential  to  the  community? 

52.  Name  any  interests  similar  to  the  above  not  so  essential 

or  perhaps  of  questionable  influence. 

53.  Name  the  regular  hotels,  and  the  summer  hotels  and  in- 

dicate the  capacity  of  each. 

54.  To  what  extent  is  the  population  increased  by  summer 

boarders?  What  are  the  influences  of  the  summer 
boarders  ? 

55.  How  many  licensed  saloons  in  the  community,  and  what 

is  the  approximate  annual  expenditure  for  liquors 
at  each? 

56.  What  forms  of  loafing,  games,  gambling,  cheap  shows 

or  other  evils  are  connected  with  each  saloon  ? 


STUDY  No.  3. 
Civic  LIFE  AND  COMMUNITY  ORGANIZATIONS. 

57.  What  political  influences  are  in  the  ascendency  in  the 

community  ? 

58.  Describe  their  moral  bearing. 

59.  What  is  the  social,  moral  and  religious  standing  of  the 

men  who  are  elected  to  the  highest  town  offices  and 
responsibilities  ? 

60.  What  public  interests  seem  to  be  harmful  on  account  of 

dubious  leadership? 

61.  In  what  ways  has  the  church  helped  or  hindered  in  the 

community  progress  toward  civic  righteousness  ? 

12 


Community  Organisations. 

62.  Enumerate  the  various  co-operative  business  organizations 

of  the  community  and  give  the  standing  and  efficiency 
of  each. 

63.  What  clubs,  lodges  and  secret  fraternal  orders  other  than 

the  grange  exist  in  the  community?  What  is  the 
membership,  leadership  and  influence  of  each  ? 

64.  What  grange,  or  farmer's  social  and  educational  organiza- 

tions are  there?  What  is  the  membership,  leadership 
and  influence  of  each? 

65.  What  libraries,  lecture  courses,  nature  clubs,  museums  or 

other  cultural  institutions  belonging  to  the  community 
as  a  whole  are  organized?  What  is  their  standing 
and  efficiency? 

66.  What  institutions  has  the  community  for  the  care  of  de- 

pendent, defective  and  delinquent  classes,  such  as  the 
poor,  aged,  sick,  orphan,  blind,  epileptic,  criminal, 
etc.?  What  is  the  standing  and  efficiency  of  each? 

STUDY  No.  4. 
THE  COMMUNITY'S  RECREATION. 

Play  Problems  of  Children  Under  12  Years  of  Age. 

67.  What  proportion  of  the  children  have  wholesome  and  ade- 

quate recreation  at  home? 

68.  What  groups  of  children  are  at  play  on  the  public  streets 

or  in  other  public  places? 

69.  What  games  are  played  in  these  public  places? 

70.  What  are  the  most  popular  games  for  boys? 

71.  For  girls? 

72.  What  is  being  done  to  give  moral  direction  to  such  recre- 

ation as  is  noted  above  ? 

Recreation  Problems  of  Boys  and  Girls  of  13-16  Years  of  Age. 

73.  What  natural  play  gangs  of  boys  are  to  be  found,  and 

what  are  the  meeting  places? 

74.  Of  girls? 

75.  Are  the  moral  influences  of  the  gangs  good  ? 

76.  How   have   the   physical    changes   attendant   upon   ado- 

lescence affected  the  play  of  boys  and  girls? 

Recreation  Problems  of  Young  Men  and  Women. 

77.  What  are  the  forms  of  spontaneous  recreation  for  the 

young  men? 

13 


78.  For  the  young  women? 

79.  What  are  the  youngest  ages  for  young  men  and  women 

to  be  in  each  other's  company? 

80.  Are  they  unchaperoned  ? 

81.  What  cases  of  immorality  have  arisen  from  the  recre- 

ations of  young  men  and  women? 

Recreation  Problems  of  Adult  Life. 

82.  What  forms  of  recreation  are  initiated  by  groups  of  men 

of  their  own  accord? 

83.  By  groups  of  women? 

84.  By  men  and  women? 

85.  What  recreation  is  afforded  in  the  homes  of  the  people. 

Organized  Public  Recreation. 

86.  What  are  the  agencies,  such  as  playgrounds,  tennis  clubs, 

snowshoe  clubs,  etc.? 

87.  Name  the  public  occasions,  such  as  legal  holidays,  field 

days,  picnics,  etc.,  which  take  place  each  year,  and 
which  attract  the  interest  and  attendance  of  the  larg- 
est numbers  of  people. 

88.  What  shows,  moving-picture  exhibitions,  plays,  concerts 

or  other  entertainments  take  place  each  year  in  public 
halls? 

89.  What  are  the  favorite  athletic  sports  of  the  community, 

and  what  is  the  occurrence,  leadership  and  influence 
of  each? 

90.  What  is  the  prevalence  of  whist  and  other  card  games, 

and  what  organized  provisions  are  made  for  the 
same? 

91.  What  and  how  many  public  dances  take  place  in  the  com- 

munity each  year?  What  is  the  leadership,  standing 
and  influence  of  each? 

92.  Which  ones  of  the  above  may  be  adjudged  harmful  on 

the  basis  of  actual  observation  of  facts  ? 

Public  Provision  for  Recreation. 

93.  To  what  extent  and  in  what  forms  are  the  social  gather- 

ings, recreations,  amusements  and  entertainments  of 
the  community  provided  by  the  families  or  households 
as  such? 

94.  By  the  school  or  schools? 

95.  By  the  church  or  churches  ? 

96.  By  the  community's  organizations? 

14 


97-  To  what  extent  are  the  town  officials  interested  in  and 
committed  to  the  policy  of  admitting  only  helpful  en- 
tertainments to  public  buildings  ? 

STUDY  No.  5. 

EDUCATION  AND  SCHOOL  LIFE. 

98.  What   schools   below    the   high   school   grade  has   the 

community,  and  what  is  the  attendance  at  each? 

99.  How   many   children   who   are   old    enough   to   attend 

schools  below  high  school  grade  do  not  attend  such 
schools?    What  are  the  reasons  for  not  attending? 

0 oo.  To  what  extent  is  there  centralization  of  public  schools, 

and  what  is  the  educational,  economic  and  social  ef- 
fect of  the  same? 

101.  What  high  school  advantages,  local  or  otherwise,  have 

the  community? 

102.  How  many  boys  of  the  community  attend  high  school? 

How  many  girls? 

103.  What   proportion   of   boys    attending   high   school    are 

church  members?     Of  girls? 

104.  How  many  boys  of  high  school  age  are  not  attendants 

at  high  school?    Of  girls? 

105.  What  proportion  of  the  boys  of  high  school  age  who 

are  not  in  high  school  are  church  members?    Of  the 
girls? 

1 06.  What  is  the  average  age  of  the  young  people  of  the 

community  when  they  cease  going  to  school? 

107.  Do  the  public  schools  fit  young  men  and  women  for 

the  work  which  most  of  them  must  do  in  life? 

1 08.  How  many  young  people  of  the  community  are  attend- 

ing college  ? 

109.  What  proportion   of   the   high   school   graduates   have 

gone  to  college  in  the  last  five  years  ? 

no.  How  many  young  men  and  women  have  gone  to  agri- 
cultural colleges? 

in.  What  is  the  influence  in  the  community  of  those  who 
have  attended  agricultural  college? 

112.  What   schools  aside   from  those  mentioned  are   being 

attended  by  persons  from  the  community? 

STUDY  No.  6. 

RELIGION  AND  CHURCH  LIFE. 

Religious   Divisions   of   the  Population. 

113.  What  numerically  is  the  Protestant  population  of  the 

community  ? 

15 


114-     What  numerically  is  the  Roman   Catholic  population? 

115.  Of  what  other  religious  divisions  or  classes  are  adher- 

ents found?    State  numbers. 

116.  How  many  families  in  the  community  do  not  definitely 

belong  to  the  constituency  of  any  church? 

117.  When  was  the  last  religious  census  of  the  community 

taken? 

The  Churches. 

1 1 8.  Name  the  churches  in  the  community  giving  the   de- 

nomination and  the  date  of  the  establishment  of  each. 

(NOTE. — In  this  study  any  local  group  of  people  hav- 
ing religious  meetings  as  often  as  once  a  year 
and  with  any  degree  of  religious  leadership  may 
be  counted  as  a  church.) 

119.  What  is  the  actual  resident  membership  of  each  church? 

The  total  membership? 

1 20.  How  many  families  does  each  church  number  as  its  own 

distinct  constituency? 

121.  What  are  the  distinctly  religious  or  devotional  services 

by  each  church  ?    What  is  the  attendance  at  each  ? 

122.  What  is  the  average  attendance  at  the  leading  service  of 

worship  in  each  church? 

123.  Is  church  membership  and  attendance  increasing  or  de- 

creasing ? 

124.  If  decreasing  church   membership   and   attendance  are 

evidently  caused  by  race  suicide,  small  families  and 
childless  homes  among  church  people  state  the  facts. 
If  the  opposite  is  true,  state  the  facts  which  show  it. 

125.  If  decreasing  church  membership  and  attendance  is  due 

to  the  exodus  of  the  people  to  town  and  city,  describe 
the  extent  and  local  causes  of  this  movement. 

126.  To  what  extent  are  the  representative  and  leading  men 

of  the  community  in  each  of  the  churches? 

127.  Are  the  young  people  of  the  community  definitely  at- 

tracted and  trained  to  church  attendance  and  member- 
ship? If  so,  to  what  extent  and  by  what  means? 

128.  To  what  extent  and  in  what  ways  is  each  church  in- 

clusive or  exclusive  of  economic,  intellectual  or  social 
grades  or  classes? 

129.  Is  the  church  ruled  or  influenced  by  personal,  family, 

social  or  religious  cliques?    How? 

130.  What  is  the  nature  of  the  attracting  power  of  each 

church;  the  pastor's  leadership,  sociability,  educa- 
tional advantage,  evangelistic  fervor,  the  habit  of  wor- 

16 


ship,  theological  enlightenment,  devotional  satisfac- 
tion or  personal  principle? 

131.  What  are  the  leading  causes  of  non-church  attendance 

in  the  community? 

STUDY  No.  7. 
THE  PASTOR. 

132.  Was  the  pastor  reared  in  the  country?     Has  he  had 

practical  experience  at  farming? 

I33-     What,  in  years,  has  been  the  length  of  each  pastor's 
service  in  the  community? 

134.  What  high  school,  college,  theological  seminary  or  other 

educational  training  has  each  pastor  had? 

135.  What  strong  points  due  to  special  gifts,  training  or  past 

experience  has  each  pastor  to  fit  him  for  community 
leadership  ? 

136.  How  many  pastoral  calls  does  the  pastor  of  each  church 

make  annually? 

137.  Does  each  church  give  its  pastor  an  adequate  field  of 

service?  Are  the  needs  and  possibilities  of  each  field 
sufficient  to  command  the  best  efforts  of  a  strong 
man? 

138.  What  cash  salary,  locally  raised,  does  each  church  pay 

its  pastor? 

139.  What  annual  assistance  does  each  church  receive  from 

endowments,  invested  funds  or  town  moneys? 

140.  What  financial  aid  does  each  church  or  pastor  receive 

annually  from  denominational  missionary  sources? 

141.  What  financial  assistance,  if  any,  does  each  church  or 

pastor  in  the  community  receive  from  the  service 
by  the  pastor  of  churches  in  other  communities? 

142.  Has  each  pastor  the  use  of  parsonage?     Church  land? 

What  are  the  cash  equivalents  for  such  advantages? 

143.  What  ministers  are  limited  in  their  efficiency  and  leader- 

ship by  inadequate  salaries,  and  to  what  extent  ?  What 
side  issues,  if  any,  are  necessary  for  a  comfortable 
livelihood  ? 

144.  What  ministers  are  hindered  in  their  local  community 

leadership  because  of  inability  to  concentrate  their 
efforts  upon  local  problems? 

STUDY  No.  8. 
INTER-CHURCH  RELATIONS. 

145.  What  church  or  churches  in  the  community  stand  "for 

17 


evangelical  conversion,  personal  regeneration,  and 
emotional  fervor  in  their  worship,  teaching  and  serv- 
ice? 

146.  What  church  or  churches  stand  for  intellectual  liberal- 

ism in  their  worship,  teaching  and  service? 

147.  What  particular  characteristics  give  to  each  church  a 

rightful  place,  if  such  is  the  case,  in  the  community? 

148.  What  church  or  churches,  if  any,  habitually  serve  de- 

nominational interests  at  the  expense  of  community 
interests  ? 

149.  What  churches  have  habitually  sacrificed  themselves  to 

serve  the  community  primarily  and  in  consequence 
have  served  the  denomination? 

150.  What  union  meetings  or  gatherings  have  the  churches 

of  the  community  held  during  the  past  year?  State 
whether  they  have  been  for  regular  Sabbath  wor- 
ship, mid-week  devotional  help,  Sunday-school  pro- 
motion, social  enjoyment,  evangelism  or  other  objects. 

151.  What  church  or  churches  have  stood  aloof  from  such 

gatherings,  and  for  what  reasons  ? 

152.  On  what  community  issues,  religious,  moral,  educational, 

social  or  political  have  the  churches  united  for  work? 
With  what  results? 

153.  Has  the  effort  ever  been  made  to  form  an  inter-church 

federation  through  which  the  churches  might  unitedly 
carry  on  a  continuous  program  of  community  service  ? 

154.  What  would  be  the  losses  to  each  individual  church  and 

to  the  community  of  such  a  permanent  inter-church 
organization  ? 

155.  What  would  be  the  gains  both  to  the  churches  and  to  the 

community  from  such  an  organization? 

156.  Give  any  concrete  instances  when  the  influence  of  the 

churches  has  suffered  on  account  of  the  lack  of 
united  effort. 

157.  Has  the  community  two  or  more  churches  which  stand 

so  nearly  for  the  same  things  and  work  among  the 
same  constituencies  that  the  Christian  interests  of  the 
community  would  be  enhanced  by  their  organic 
union  ? 

158.  Has   the    community    more    churches    than    would    be 

needed,  if  they  would  work  unitedly,  to  secure  the 
moral  wholesomeness  and  spiritual  welfare  of  the 
whole  community? 

18 


STUDY  No.  9. 
EVANGELISM. 

(NoxE. — By  evangelism  we  mean  the  effort  to  propa- 
gate Christian  standards  of  life.) 

159.  What  have  been  the  most  recent  efforts  of  evangelism 

in  the  community?  Have  they  been  in  the  nature  of 
personal  work  campaigns,  religious  education  efforts 
or  revivals  led  by  evangelists? 

1 60.  Which  form  of  revivals  have  been  most  productive  of 

good,  denominational  or  community  revivals? 

161.  To  what  extent  and  with  what  results  has  the  periodic 

policy  of  evangelism — that  is,  dependence  uppn  an 
allotted  period  for  special  efforts  at  bringing  people 
into  the  Christian  life — been  practiced  by  the  church 
or  churches?  Have  hurtful  reactions  followed  such 
efforts  ? 

162.  To  what  extent  and  with  what  results  has  the  continuous 

policy  of  evangelism — that  is,  dependence  upon  mak- 
ing all  the  work  of  the  church,  public,  personal,  social 
and  religious,  a  continuous  means  of  showing  the 
people  their  privilege  and  duty  of  the  Christian  life 
— been  practiced  by  the  church  or  churches? 

163.  What  revivals  have  been  injected  into  the  religious  life 

of  the  community  as  substitutes  for  evangelistic  em- 
phasis in  regular  worship,  pastoral  calling,  the 
church's  leadership  in  the  parish,  or  as  an  artificial 
means  of  maintaining  church  membership  and  stand- 
ing? What  has  been  the  ultimate  effect  upon  the 
Church?  Upon  the  community? 

164.  When   revivals  have  come  as  a  vital   result,  marking 

a  stage  in  the  process  of  carrying  forward  a  Chris- 
tian program  of  community  development,  what  has 
been  the  ultimate  effect  upon  the  church?  Upon  the 
community  ? 

165.  Have  the  churches  gained  or  lost  in  evangelistic  influ- 

ence on  account  of  co-operation  in  community  move- 
ments for  moral  or  social  betterment? 

1 66.  What  have  been  the  permanent  results  of  evangelism 

in  securing  the  spiritual  new  birth  and  integrity  of 
individuals  ? 

167.  Which  expressions  of  evangelism  have  been  more  pro- 

ductive, remedial  efforts  toward  reclaiming  hardened 
cases  or  preventive  efforts  toward  directing  and  de- 
veloping the  young? 

19 


Organised  Work  and  Evangelism. 

1 68.  What  is  the  enrollment  and  average  attendance  in  each 

Sunday-school. 

169.  Report  the  actual  number  present  at  each  Sunday-school 

on  a  given  Sunday. 

a.  Under  6        years. 

b.  From    6-8 

c.  "      9-12 

d.  "       13-16     " 

e.  "       17-20     " 

f.  21  years  and  over. 

170.  What  proportion  of  the  present  members  of  each  church 

were  first  members  of  the  Sunday-school? 

171.  What  proportion  of  the  present  members  of  each  Sun- 

day-school are  also  members  of  the  church  ? 

172.  To  what  extent  is  each  Sunday-school  a  means  and  an 

agency  leading  to  evangelistic  results? 

173.  To  what  extent  has  the  work  of  young  people's  societies 

been  a  means  to  evangelistic  results  in  the  church  or 
churches  ? 

174.  What  facts  tend  to  show  that  the  named  results  follow 

this  cause? 

175.  Answer  the  same  questions  for  the  brotherhoods  of  the 

church  or  churches? 

176.  For  the  Ladies'  Aid  Society  or  Societies. 

177.  For  the  mission  study  class  or  classes. 

178.  For  any  other  systematic  effort  at  missionary  education 

or  giving. 

179.  For  the  boys'  clubs. 

1 80.  For  men's  clubs. 

181.  For  any  other  organized  religious  and  social  work  of  the 

church  or  churches. 

STUDY  No.  10. 
INSTITUTIONAL  CHURCH  WORK. 

182.  What  are  the  regular  gatherings  for  social  and  educa- 

tional purposes  by  the  church  or  churches? 

183.  What  secondary  co-operative  associations  or  agencies, 

such  as  the  Y.M.C.A.,  the  Good  Templars,  the  Salva- 
tion Army,  the  W.C.T.U.,  the  King's  Daughters,  the 
Boy  Scouts,  the  Anti-Saloon  League,  are  in  the  com- 
munity ?  To  what  extent  does  such  work  make  direct 
institutional  or  organized  social  work  by  the  churches 
unnecessary  ? 

20 


184.  Name  the  advantages  to  the  community  if  the  churches 

did  this  work. 

185.  To  what  extent  is  each  church  equipped  with  kitchen, 

dining-room,  library,  parlor,  gymnasium,  lecture 
rooms  or  parish  house  for  institutional  work  ? 

1 86.  What  forms  of  institutional  work  does  each  church  con- 

duct and  with  what  results  ? 

187.  What  forms  of  charitable  and  philanthropic  work  does 

each  church  do? 

1 88.  What  heed  is  given  to  problems  of  health  and  sanita- 

tion? 

189.  What  expert  supplemental  assistance  is  received  or  avail- 

able to  each  pastor  and  church  from  denominational 
sources  ? 

190.  Has  such  aid  when  received  meant  the  exhaustion,  the 

weakening  or  the  development  of  local  forces  and  pos- 
sibilities ?  How  ? 

191.  Has  any  expert  assistance  received  from  educational,  re- 

form and  other  associational  movements,  such  as  the 
Anti-Saloon  League,  Sunday  School  Association,  Na- 
tional Reform  Bureau,  American  Institute  of  Social 
Service,  tended  to  exhaust,  weaken  or  develop  local 
possibilities  ?  How  ? 

STUDY  No.  ii. 
FEDERATION  OF  RURAL  SOCIAL  FORCES. 

192.  What  organization  or  institution  in  the  community  as- 

sembles the  largest  number  of  people  ?  What  occasion 
and  what  motives  attract  this  maximum  crowd? 

193.  What  organization  or  institution  draws  the  second  larg- 

est crowd,  on  what  occasion  and  by  what  motives? 

194.  State  the  same  facts  for  the  third  largest  crowd. 

195.  The  fourth  largest  crowd. 

196.  The  fifth  largest  crowd. 

197.  Name  the  five  organizations  or  institutions  in  the  order 

of  their  size  or  inclusiveness  which  come  nearest  to 
representing  the  entire  community,  and  state  for 
what  each  stands. 

198.  Name  the  leading  social  centers — that  is,  the  centers  of 

the  widest  and  most  potent  influence  in  the  com- 
munity— in  the  order  of  their  religious  value  to  the 
community. 

199.  In  the  order  of  their  moral  or  ethical  value. 

200.  In  the  order  of  their  social  value. 

21 


201.  What  conditions  of  co-operation  are  there  between  the 

homes  and  the  church  or  churches  of  the  community, 
and  what  is  the  effect  of  the  same  ? 

202.  Answer  the  same  questions  as  to  co-operation  between 

the  homes  and  the  public  schools. 

203.  The  public  schools  and  the  church  or  churches. 

204.  The  church  or  churches  and  the  grange.     What  is  the 

extent  of  co-membership  in  this  case? 

205.  The  church  or  churches  and  other  fraternal  and  secret 

orders  or  clubs.  What  is  the  extent  of  co-member- 
ship? 

206.  The  church  or  churches  and  the  town  or  civic  organiza- 

tion. 

207.  Make  a  catalogue  of  the  pairs  of  organizations  in  the 

community  between  which  there  is  strife  and  conten- 
tion which  is  harmful  to  the  community. 

208.  State  the  instances  in  which  the  contention  is  more  de- 

structive of  community  unification  and  welfare  than 
the  institutions  themselves  are  of  value  to  community 
welfare. 

209.  State  in  itemized  form  the  facts  which  indicate  the  ex- 

tent of  co-operation  among  the  various  organizations 
of  the  community? 

210.  What  outstanding  social  needs  has  the  community  which 

are  not  being  met  by  any  organizations  or  institu- 
tions ? 

211.  Can  the  church  or  churches  by  co-operative  leadership 

meet  these  needs  through  existing  organizations? 
In  what  ways? 

212.  Name  the  organizations  in  the  community  in  the  order 

of  their  fitness  for  leadership  in  bringing  about  the 
co-operation  or  federation  of  all  helpful  associations, 
organizations  or  institutions  for  the  purpose  of  com- 
munity unification  and  welfare. 

213.  Is  there  sufficient  community  interest  and  co-operation 

among  existing  organizations  so  that  by  their  united 
voice  they  could  debar  from  the  community  new 
movements  from  entering  to  become  rivals  to  those 
already  in  the  field? 

STUDY  No.  12. 
ULTIMATE  SOCIAL  AND  RELIGIOUS  NEEDS. 

214.  What  items  of  need  call  for  reinforced  personal  leader- 

ship on  the  part  of  the  pastor  or  pastors  ? 


215.  What  items  call  for  the  best  leadership  of  Christian  lay- 

men? 

216.  What  items  of  physical,   social  and  moral  betterment 

could  be  realized  by  the  active  co-operation  of  the 
churches  ? 

217.  Name  the  conditions  of  need  which  call  for  evangelism 

on  the  part  of  the  church  or  churches? 

218.  Name  the  instances  in  which  the  church  or  churches 

could  help  the  community  work  in  needy  neighbor- 
hoods or  among  special  populations  or  classes. 

219.  Name  the  problems  concerning  which  the   church  or 

churches  could  serve  the  community  by  getting  per- 
sons of  Christian  integrity  and  influence  in  charge  of 
public  interests. 

220.  Name  the  instances  in  which  the  church  or  churches 

could  help  the  community  by  a  program  of  co-opera- 
tion with  other  community  institutions. 

221.  Name  the  problems  and  special  needs  which  definitely 

call  for  forms  of  institutional  work  by  the  church  or 
churches. 

222.  What  special  needs  or  problems  call  for  some  form  of 

expert  aid  by  non-resident  specialists  ? 

223.  To  what  extent  and  in  what  ways  is  the  unity  and  co- 

operation of  all  helpful  community  forces  and  or- 
ganizations realized? 

224.  What  part  is  taken  by  each  church  in  hindering  or  pro- 

moting such  unity? 

225     What  definite  things  which  are  not  being  done  may  the 
church  or  churches  do  to  promote  this  unification  ? 


23 


UNIVERSITY  OF  CALIFORNIA  LIBRARY, 
BERKELEY 


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expiration  of  loan  period. 


Gaylord  Bros. 

Makers 

Syracuse,  N.  Y. 
PAT.  JAN.  21,  1908 


UNIVERSITY  OF  CALIFORNIA  LIBRARY 


